Blind Runner Sprints Toward Rio to the 2016 US Paralympic Team

GRAFTON, MA—He may have lost his eyesight, but he hasn't lost sight of his dream to become a champion runner. Specifically, he wants to qualify for the 2016 US Paralympic Team and compete in Rio in September.

Charles "Chaz" Davis graduated from Grafton High School in 2012. There, he was successful in cross country running and track under the tutelage of his coach Peter Gleason. He ran all four years of high school, and captured some district and state titles.

"Running has always been my passion," said Chaz. "I love the competitive feel of racing and a good long run is a perfect outlet for stress. I had success in high school and the Grafton community supported me in my training and racing. After this success, my goal was to run for an NCAA Division 1 school. I entered my freshman year at the University of Hartford and ran an acceptable cross country season for the Hawks."

In March, while at college, Chaz called his parents, Audrey and Marq Davis, scared because one of his eyes was "weird, like a flash had gone off and wouldn't go away."

Audrey rushed to Hartford and spent three days with him in the hospital waiting for answers. They learned what it was not - a stroke or Multiple Sclerosis - and waited. The second eye became affected, and specialists in Boston told the family it was probably Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. This rare condition affects only about 100 people each year in the United States, and there is no cure.

"It was confirmed that I am a carrier and passed it on to both of my sons," Audrey told Patch. "So far, only Chaz is affected. His vision is worse than most. Most affected have some peripheral vision. Charles is left with light perception and ability to distinguish some colors."

"My vision is pretty bad," said Chaz. "What a shock and disappointment. First I told myself, 'It's ok. I can get by with one eye.' But the second affected eye worsened. As the realization hit I fell into a trough of low expectations, bitterness, depression. I lost my independence, my ability to drive, do the summer work I loved and most importantly, it took away my passion: running. I was told to avoid intense running, which is all I knew. So little is known about LHON. After a visit to another neuro ophthomologist, I was told to run. Because really....why not?"

Chaz wouldn't take time off from school, returning as a sophomore and facing big challenges. Audrey said technology helped with these challenges, and he graduated this May 15 Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology.

At this point, he had gotten heavier, and just "didn't know where to start" in terms of getting back into running. He started hitting the treadmill, and then the Grafton Gazebo Race. With the support of family and friends, he ran the race.

"The fire was back," he said. "I now had the dream of representing the United States in the 2016 Rio Paralympics. The problem was I had no idea where to begin. I began to run again with my teammates in college. If I ran a pace behind them I could usually stay on track with them and they'd call out obstacles, minus a few trash barrels, metal crossing gates and various other objects. I would usually bounce pretty well and keep going."

He then competed in the 2015 Paralympic Nationals, taking the gold in the 5000m, and then was chosen to go to the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto. There, he got a silver in the 5000. Chaz also ran the first half of the California International Marathon, and will run the full marathon this December.

Now Chaz is training for the US Paralympic National Track and Field trials in Charlotte, where he'll run in the 5000m and 1500m against other blind athletes. If he makes the team, which is announced on July 3, he hopes to set up a guide for Rio. The Paralympics follow the Olympics.

Any money raised, said Audrey, will go toward travel, coaching and shoes. In October, Chaz will go to Colorado Center for the Blind, where he will learn more technology, some braille, and independent living skills.

"As of now, all travel and training expenses have been through me and my family," said Chaz. "I ask for your support, no matter the amount, to help me on my Road2Rio."